(NewsTarget) It may seem counterintuitive to think that something with the word "pollen" in its title may actually be a powerful tool for combating pollen and other allergies. Yet the supporting evidence of bee pollen's prowess in helping people overcome seasonal and other allergy related conditions is impressive. In the early 90's, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa became an advocate for natural health, crediting bee pollen with helping him alleviate symptoms related to his own seasonal allergies.

Allergies result from our body's response to something it has been exposed to, such as chemicals, by-products of the natural world, things we eat, drink, or breathe, or anything that comes in contact with our skin. If the body reacts adversely, such as the case with allergies, the body will release antibodies or histamines. This response is how the immune system attempts to remove or marginalize the impact of the foreign body. With allergies, the body can develop a chronic histamine response, resulting in inflammation throughout the body's skin, membranes, tissues, lungs, etc.

A look at bee pollen's nutritional composition shows that it is comprised of approximately 35% protein, including all 22 known amino acids found in the body. It is also rich in vitamins, (particularly B vitamins), all 28 minerals found in the body (especially zinc), and is loaded with health-promoting enzymes, something largely lacking in the Standard American Diet(S.A.D.). One nutrient of particular importance is quercetin. Known for its ability to minimize or neutralize the histamine response, quercetin may be a primary reason for bee pollen's capacity to alleviate inflammation caused by hay fever or other common allergy-causing substances.

Bees are highly selective in the pollen that they collect. There are two types of pollen grains: anemophile pollen grains and entomophile pollen grains. Anemophile pollens are not collected by bees and are the grains that can cause allergic reactions in people. They are light and easily blown away in the wind. Entomophiles, which means "friends of insects", are the grains that are collected and contain the super nutrient profile that is what we know as bee pollen. The bees collect these heavier, stickier entomophile pollen grains and combine them with a substance they secrete, which allows them to formulate granules that they transport back to the hive.

According to the Journal of Allergy, one study of allergy sufferers showed a majority of people with hay fever enjoyed a dramatic improvement after eating bee pollen, while some of the study's participants reported showing a 100% improvement in their condition with supplemental intake of bee pollen. Adding bee pollen to your diet is exceptionally easy to do, just mix in a smoothie, with yogurt or cereal, or eat it straight by the spoonful. Perhaps bee pollen will be the answer to your allergy question.